ROAD | Plapp and Gigante claim national time trial crowns

Photo - Con Chronis

Once rising stars, now leading stars.  Sarah Gigante and Luke Plapp, products of the Brunswick Cycling Club junior development program, claimed the elite individual time trials at the 2021 Federation University Road National Championships in Ballarat.  
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ELITE MEN 

Dreams became a reality for 20-year-old Luke Plapp (InForm TMX Make) when he clinched his maiden elite time trial crown at the 2021 Federation University Road National Championships in Ballarat on Wednesday.  

“I dreamed of it, but I saw this coming,“ said Plapp, the reigning champion in the under 23 category who elected to race in the elite ranks as he continues his rapid rise in the sport.  

“It’s been a massive goal of mine, and I’m just proud to cross the line in first because this is pretty special.“ 

It was a triple treat for Plapp who not only claimed the green and gold champion’s jersey and gold medal, but the course record after blistering the 37.5–kilometre course in a time of 46minutes 0.73 seconds. 

Plapp finished 42 seconds ahead of defending champion Luke Durbridge, with Kelland O’Brien completing the podium.  

“After the first lap, I was told that I was up on most of my competitors and really close with Durbridge, which was within five seconds,“ said Plapp. “So, it did all come down to the last split and for the last lap, I was just told it was really close and to keep going.“ 

“It was a pretty nervous few minutes when I came in because I didn’t have a time yet.“ 

Plapp, who started his cycling journey with Melbourne’s Brunswick Cycling Club junior development program as a nine-year-old, was selected to the Australian Olympic Track Team for the Tokyo Olympic Games at 19.  

Last month he shone at the Santos Festival of Cycling with a superb stage victory while also riding in support of Tour de France star Richie Porte.  

Plapp moved to Adelaide in 2018 to join the Australian Cycling Team track endurance program and was ecstatic to share today’s moment in person with teammates, coaches and friends. 

“I had all of my team around me including my best mate Blake, and it was really good to give him a hug right at the end,“ he said. “I would like to thank my family for coming down, they have always been supportive of me, particularly when I was in Adelaide as well.“ 
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“Timmy (Decker), my coach, has done everything for me, he lives and breathes it with us, to Ken and Nick who helped build my bike, the team from AusCycling, and my teammates.“ ​

Photo - Con Chronis

ELITE WOMEN 
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Sarah Gigante defended her elite and under 23–time trial crowns in resounding style by scorching her personal best time on the Federation University campus in Mount Helen, Ballarat.  
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20-year-old Gigante posted a time of 40mins 41.12secs, seventeen seconds ahead of the 2019 champion Grace Brown (Team Bike Exchange). The pair dominated the field, with Nicole Frain (Sydney Uni – Staminade) rounding out the podium a further four minutes behind. 

Gigante signed with WorldTour outfit Team Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank for the 2020 season which cut short due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The strong start to 2021 started her domination of the Santos Festival of Cycling in Adelaide.  

However, Gigante revealed multiple reconnaissance trips aided in her success on the Ballarat Road Nationals course.  

“I love coming to Ballarat and Buninyong; it’s like my second home. I’ve been up here quite a lot over the last couple of months doing some national simulations on the courses,“ said Gigante.  

“I did about three (race) simulations, and I was pretty happy when I completed the course a couple of weeks ago when I beat my race time from last year“. 

As for her effort, Gigante was even faster on what is quickly becoming her favourite course.  

“I think I heard someone say my time was two minutes quicker than last year, which I’m pretty stoked about, but it’s lucky I levelled up because Grace (Brown) also levelled up,“ said Gigante. 

Beginning her cycling journey with the Brunswick Cycling Club as a youngster, Gigante launched herself onto the radar at 2018 Championships by winning all three national titles on offer in the under 19 classifications. Twelve months later she stunned the cycling world by winning the elite road crown as an 18-year-old, before winning her first time trial title last year.  

Understandably, Gigante is enjoying her cycling more than ever.  

“I think it’s just super important to love what you do,“ said Gigante. 
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“Obviously, I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t love what I do. It’s true you have to push through some difficult times and some pain, but if you love your bike and riding with your mates, that’s the key“. 

UNDER 23 MEN’S  

Conor Leahy (InForm TMX Make) took bronze behind teammate Carter Turnbull (InForm TMX Make) who dominated the under 23 men’s individual time trial event at the 2021 Federation University Road National Championships in Ballarat. 

Turnbull completed the 28.6km course in a time of 36 minutes 50.52 secs to claim the gold medal, 45 seconds ahead of teammate Leahy (InForm TMX Make) and Patrick Eddy (Team BridgeLane). 
 
EVENT GUIDE   

More than 1400 cyclists from across Australia will descend on Ballarat this week for the AusCycling 2021 Federation University Road National Championships.   
The five days of action in Ballarat and Buninyong from February 3-7 will feature the time trial, criterium, road race, plus Gran Fondo events.   
In all, 151 AusCycling national champions will be crowned across the elite, under 23, under 19, para, deaf, club and intellectual impairment categories. 40 UCI gold medals will be awarded in the UCI Gran Fondo World Qualifier events in the road race and time trial.   

SCHEDULE  
The coveted green and gold national champion’s jerseys on offer in the criterium, road race and time trial, plus Gran Fondo, across five days of action.  >>> roadnationals.org.au/schedule   

START LISTS & LIVE RESULTS  
Visit the website’s official live timing page to stay up–to–date with all the action live from the Championships. >>> roadnationals.org.au/startlist-results 

BROADCAST/LIVE STREAM   
The AusCycling 2021 Federation University Road National Championships will feature domestic coverage on SBS and FoxSports Australia, and for the first time, international broadcast coverage through the Global Cycling Network. >>> roadnationals.org.au/tv-live-stream-guide    

SPECTATOR GUIDE  
To ensure everyone’s safety in attendance, we’ve taken steps to safeguard The Federation University Road National Championships is a COVID Safe event. >>> roadnationals.org.au/spectate/   ​